“Melbourne needs a direct rail link to the airport, that’s why we’re getting on and delivering it. A new Keilor East station will give locals direct access to the city via the Metro Tunnel,” said Victorian Premier Ben Carroll.
The full airport rail project is being delivered in stages, with the state and federal governments jointly committing $12 billion to the project. Stage 1, known as the Sunshine Superhub, is already underway. The $4.1 billion project will transform Sunshine Station into a six-platform interchange and untangle six kilometres of track between West Footscray and Albion.
Once Stage 1 is complete (slated for 2030), it will create capacity for up to 1,000 trains a day, allowing more frequent services on the Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo lines and paving the way for the Melton Line to be electrified.
The 7.4km rail line will be built alongside the Jacana freight corridor and include 1.1km of elevated rail near Albion Station, building Victoria’s second highest bridge to take trains over the Maribyrnong River, and high-capacity signalling to enable frequent airport services.
The new Keilor East station will be built with a car park and bus interchange to improve transport connections and enable fast and easy access to the Metro Tunnel and Melbourne’s CBD. Once open, the new Keilor East station is expected to connect around 5,200 passengers a day with the city, while a further 6,600 passengers and airport workers are expected to use the new line each hour.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the project as "transformative". "It'll make an enormous difference for people travelling to and from Melbourne Airport, but will make a difference for local residents as well," Mr Albanese said.
Construction is expected to begin in 2028, with Stage 2 scheduled to be completed in 2031, however a timeline for a rail line between Keilor East and the airport itself is yet to be finalised. The Melbourne Airport Rail Steering Committee is continuing to work through options for Stage 3, which will include an above-ground station at Melbourne Airport itself.
Infrastructure and Transport Minister Catherine King did not give a completion date. "The complexities of getting it onto an airport site had to be worked through," she said. "But you can't get it to the airport if you don't get it to Keilor for a start."
The airport rail link, when finished, will have three stations – the interchange at Sunshine, the new station serving Keilor East and the Airport West precinct, and the airport itself. Passengers will be able to travel straight through from the airport to the city.